“I’m making them in the morning.”Maggie took a sip of her tea.“Do you give Katie the price of what you’re selling, or does she choose?”
“She chooses.She has a better idea what things should sell for here.”
The door opened then, and James and Everett came inside.James immediately looked at the table and saw that the money was gone, and he looked relieved.
“We got a doe, but we’ve already taken care of it,” Everett said.“And I cut tiny pieces for the stew meat.”
“Thank you for that!”Belle said.“We should be getting home.I haven’t even thought about what to make for supper.”
Everett helped Belle on with her coat.“See you at work tomorrow,” he said to James.“Thanks for the meal, Maggie.It was delicious.”
After they were gone, Maggie stood up and cleared the table from the tea and cookies.She washed out the teapot and waited for James to say something about the money being gone, but when he didn’t, she decided she could be the one to make peace, even though he was the stubborn one.
“Belle told me I’m being stubborn about the money, and I need to stop it,” she said softly.
James grunted.“Everett called me a fool.Said I should understand your past and why you feel as you do.”He swallowed hard.“I am sorry I was so rude to you about it.It touched a sore spot in me.”
“And in me.I need to feel like I’m going to be all right financially.That’s the crux of the matter.But I also need to respect your wishes and not try to force you to take money I’ve earned.”She turned to him and met his eyes.“I am sorry.”
James opened his arms to her, and she flew into them.“I’m sorry too.I shouldn’t have acted like a pigheaded fool.Money is a touchy subject with me as well.It’s just different.”
“All is forgiven?”she asked, nestling into his arms.
“All is forgiven.I love you, and I never want us to fight that way again.”
“I don’t want to fight either.”She looked up at him, feeling safe for the first time since that morning.“I love you too, James.With everything inside me.”
“Glad to hear it.And you didn’t even call me stubborn when you said it.I think things are looking up for us.”
Maggie giggled.“I know they are.”
